West Virginians for Public Lands – July 2017

Monument Review Raises Concerns

Sand to Snow National Monument

The comment period for national monuments review has closed with an astounding 2.7 million people writing Interior Secretary Zinke in support of keeping monuments as the are — including more than 200 of you receiving this newsletter! Mr. Zinke already has recommended drastic changes to Bears Ears National Monument, with more troubling news expected when the full review is submitted. He will travel to several monuments over the next few weeks, where he will get an earful from business owners, sportsmen, and everyone who values this national treasures. If he recommends that Congress makes changes to several monuments, we’ll need your help to conatct the West Virginia Congressional delegation. Stay tuned!

Senate Moves On Recreation Access

New River Gorge National River

The Senate has taken up a measure to improve funding and access for recreation lands. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s bill includes permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which helps maintain and expand access to treasures like the Gauley River, The Mon, and battlefield areas around Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

Volunteer Nature Photographers Needed

Photo by Tania Stricker, taken on Water Reporter

If you plan to spend time in the Birthplace of Rivers area this summer, or paddling or fishing on the Elk River, you can help document river conditions with your phone. People interested in contributing to the project can download a free app called Water Reporter; download the app here, to their phones. The app allows users to upload photos to an online map. You can document areas that need help, or just share photos of your favorite places. We’ll unveil a presentation of the photo map at the Elkspedition Paddle and Picnic, Labor Day, September 4, at Coonskin Park in Charleston

Share Your Public Lands Stories On Our Blog

View from The Roaring Plains in the Mon.

Stories? You have them. You know you do. A special place that you often return to. A favorite place to visit with friends or family. A favorite place for berry picking, hunting, or fishing. We’d love to hear your stories and post them on our new public lands blog. It can be a few paragraphs or a longer tale. All you have to do is ground your stories in West Virginia’s public lands, write it up, and send it along with a few photos of the place to dlillard@wvrivers.org. Type WVPL Stories in the subject line. Not a writer? No worries. We’ll help you! Check out the first two posts!